With an initial international boom in synthetic marijuana distribution and use in just over a decade and with the unpredictability of the product itself, it seems like the authorities worldwide are scratching their heads as to how to deal with this slippery drug.
Malta is no exception with sources close to the police corps telling The Malta Independent that the law just cannot keep up with it.
After reports from medical professionals to this newsroom that the problem is still present, TMI delved deeper into the issue to find out just how real the problem is.
Upon contacting sources with particular expertise on the fight against drugs, it was clear that despite legislative progress being made in the last two years, at this point it is still nearly impossible to stop the synthetic boom.
Although the sources disagreed with the idea that synthetic products, with the street name of 'Spice' is still on the increase in the general public, they did confirm that the product is still in public circulation and is still finding its way into the hands of inexperienced smokers who don't know what they're buying.
'Spice' is made up of a mixture of natural herbs and dried plant material giving it a look similar to regular marijuana, however the active ingredients are then sprayed onto the deceivingly natural components. Instead of the natural THC which is the chemical compound which gives the expected high, the synthetic drug is coated with synthetic cannabinoids, of which there are over 700 variants.
On a chemical level, the synthetic cannabinoids just happen to fit into the same brain receptors that the natural THC latches onto, so they can have similar affects. However, since they are synthetic and often made shoddily in some garage lab in China or Russia, they might e up to 100 times stronger thus having adverse negative effects, even affecting other parts of the brain at points too.
So apart from the usual lethargy, hunger and laughter usually attributed to marijuana use, 'Spice' can have negative effects. These side-effects include heart palpitations, blurred vision, high blood pressure, vomiting, seizures, hallucinations, severe anxiety and paranoia, even full blown cardiac arrest. Although it is relatively impossible to die from smoking too much natural marijuana, it is a disturbing possibility with some synthetic variants.
Up until a few years ago, the sale and distribution of the product was legal and freely available on the internet, sometimes even marketed as natural herbal tobacco or potpourri with innocent-looking "Not for human consumption" warning labels on the side so as to avoid detection. This was a marketing strategy for the companies to avoid the legal limelight.
Ever since the substance became illegal in most countries over the last five or so years, with Malta following suit, the authorities have been struggling to keep up with the companies which have found an ingenious way to thwart detection. As confirmed by one of the sources close to the police corps, once one particular chemical compound is made illegal, the manufacturers simply tweak the recipe thus making it fall through a legal loophole once again.
In the local scene, the trend of using 'Spice' or any other synthetic variant seems to have decreased. The reason, according to the sources, is that every incarnation of the drug is being investigated regardless of initial illegality or not. For all intents and purposes, it just doesn't make sense to risk it with the volatile and often unpredictable effects if it costs the same to get the normal THC-ridden grass anyway.
In fact both sources also confirmed that it was more a case of young people trying to experiment with it who stumble on the synthetic drug and then, if caught, have to undergo the same investigation procedures anyway. Luckily for Malta, there have seemingly never been any reported fatalities and there is constant effort being done in terms of research and investigation to crack down on a large number of drugs including all the synthetic variants.
TMI sources said that synthetic marijuana is still finding its way into Corradino Correctional Facility. This newsroom sent questions to the Home Affairs Ministry regarding the incidence of 'Spice' in the Facility.
A spokesperson told this newsroom that "in 2015, out of 24 drug cases seized at Corradino Correctional Facility, 22 were related to suspected synthetic marijuana. In 2016 (so far), out of the 26 drug cases seized at CCF, 19 were reported as suspected synthetic marijuana cases. These cases were turned over to the police for investigation.
"The CCF authorities are taking every possible action in order to detect any form of drug abuse within the facility. The increase in detection rate is evidence that the measures adopted are yielding results. CCF authorities are working harder than ever and are being more successful in their findings."
TMI also attempted to contact an official from the Police Corps last week, but as of yet there has been no response whatsoever regarding the allegation of not being able to keep up with changing chemical formulae.
Separate attempts to contact Caritas on the public effect of the drug also bore no fruit until this paper went to print.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2bs0FE5
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